Method for updating vehicle diagnostics software

• US 20060122746A1
• Filed: 12/02/2004
• Published: 06/08/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Motors LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Gawlik, Thomas A., Zambo, Michael G.
• Granted Patent: US 7,272,475 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/29
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0808 Diagnosing performance data testing of vehicles G01M17/00; testing of electrical installation on vehicles G01R31/005

Abstract

A method for updating vehicle diagnostics software via a telematics unit is based on the occurrence of a service event as detected by the telematics unit. Upon the connection of a vehicle diagnostics device to a vehicle, the telematics unit receives a scan tool configuration data and a vehicle code. The determination whether the scan tool configuration is current based on the vehicle code is made at the telematics unit. Based on the determination, the call center sends an updated scan tool configuration data to the telematics unit. The telematics unit offers the updated scan tool configuration data to the vehicle diagnostics device for reprogramming.

Claims

1. A method for updating vehicle diagnostics tool software, the method comprising:

receiving a scan tool configuration data and a vehicle code at a telematics unit;

determining whether the scan tool configuration is current based on the vehicle code; and

sending an updated scan tool configuration data based on the determination.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the received scan tool configuration data is sent to the telematics unit from a scan tool device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the received vehicle code is sent to the telematics unit from a call center.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether the scan tool configuration data is current comprises locating a current scan tool configuration associated with the vehicle code in a scan tool database.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein sending an updated scan tool configuration data based on the determination comprises receiving the updated scan tool configuration data at the telematics unit and sending the updated scan tool configuration data from the telematics unit to a scan tool.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the updated scan tool configuration data is associated with at least one vehicle application.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the telematics unit reprograms the scan tool device in response to the selection of the updated scan tool configuration data by the scan tool device.

8. A computer readable medium storing a computer program code for updating vehicle diagnostics software, the medium comprising:

computer readable code for receiving a scan tool configuration data and a vehicle code at a telematics unit;

computer readable code for determining whether the scan tool configuration is current based on the vehicle code; and

computer readable code for sending an updated scan tool configuration data based on the determination.

9. The medium of claim 8, wherein the received scan tool configuration data is sent to the telematics unit from a scan tool device.

10. The medium of claim 8, wherein the received vehicle code is sent to the telematics unit from a call center.

11. The medium of claim 8, further comprising computer readable code for determining whether the scan tool configuration data is current comprises computer readable code for locating a current scan tool configuration associated with the vehicle code in a scan tool database.

12. The medium of claim 8 further comprising computer readable code for sending the updated scan tool configuration data from the call center to a telematics unit corresponding to the vehicle code via a wireless network.

13. The medium of claim 8 wherein the computer readable code for sending an updated scan tool configuration data based on the determination comprises computer readable code for receiving the updated scan tool configuration data at the telematics unit and computer readable code for sending the updated scan tool configuration data from the telematics unit to a scan tool.

14. The medium of claim 8 wherein the telematics unit reprograms the scan tool device in response to the selection of the updated scan tool configuration data by the scan tool device.

15. A system for updating vehicle diagnostics software comprising:

means for receiving a scan tool configuration data and a vehicle code at a telematics unit;

means for determining whether the scan tool configuration is current based on the vehicle code; and

means for sending an updated scan tool configuration data based on the determination.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the received scan tool configuration data is sent to the telematics unit from a scan tool device.

17. The system of claim 15 wherein the received vehicle code is sent to the telematics unit from a call center.

18. The system of claim 15 further comprising means for determining whether the scan tool configuration data is current comprises means for locating a current scan tool configuration associated with the vehicle code in a scan tool database.

19. The system of claim 15 further comprising means for sending the updated scan tool configuration data from the call center to a telematics unit corresponding to the vehicle code via a wireless network.

20. The system of claim 15 further comprising means for the telematics unit updating the scan tool device in response to the selection of the updated scan tool configuration data by the scan tool device, wherein the updated scan tool configuration data is associated with at least one vehicle application.